MSc in Computer Science
Montana State University
About Me
Hey, I’m Zach a CS grad student at Montana State University focused on backend development, APIs, and systems programming. I enjoy working on compilers, networking, and service integrations. I started out in the field of biology because intricate systems and how everything works together fascinated me, that same interest ultimately pulled me toward computer science and software systems.
Education
BSc Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Montana State University
Projects
Vet Clinic Application
Java JUnit Playwright
Assisted research group in building out large-scale web application for vet clinic management.
- Developed software in Java using internal custom web framework
- Assisted in developing unit and end-to-end tests using JUnit and Playwright
Cat-script Compiler
Java Maven JUnit 5 ASM (bytecode) Javalin
Implemented a compiler for a custom scripting language (CatScript) in Java, featuring tokenization, recursive descent parsing, semantic analysis, tree-walking evaluation, and JVM bytecode compilation.
- Built a recursive descent parser supporting expressions, statements, functions, and type literals
- Implemented semantic analysis with symbol tables, type checking, and error reporting
- Implemented parser synchronization for resilient error recovery and better error messages
- Wrote comprehensive checkpoint tests using JUnit 5 covering each compiler phase
Project.effort = Math.max(Substance caffeine, Substance determination) Project.effort = Math.ceil(determination)
Experience
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Montana State University · Bozeman, MT
January 2026 –
Present
- Refactored legacy compiler test suites and developed new JUnit unit tests for integration into a redesigned custom-built compiler.
- Implemented error recovery and synchronization in academic compiler to support more informative error messages.
- Built custom command line interface integrated into web framework to provide students with improved ease of use when issuing SQL database queries.
- Ensured comprehensive code coverage in unit test suites for course assignment codebases.
Network Analyst
Montana State University · Bozeman, MT
October 2024 –
August 2025
- Assisted in deploying Cisco networking equipment, applying configurations and troubleshooting current networking infrastructure.
- Automated network configurations by developing Python scripts transforming YAML data for Ansible, reducing manual entry errors and deployment time.
Environmental Health Specialist
Cascade County, Public Health Dept. · Great Falls, MT
July 2022 –
January 2024
- Maintained data to support program improvement plans and managed detailed documentation for regional establishments using internal software tools.
- Collaborated with teams to deliver educational content and enhance public relations efforts, building connections and increasing public outreach.